News

New building initiative to ‘revolutionise’ industry

The 'Sure Build' concept will offered Mainprize "peace of mind" during the construction of its new windfarm support vessels

UK-based independent ship repairer, Burgess Marine, has launched a new initiative to help bring “peace of mind” to industry players commissioning windfarm newbuilds.

The first beneficiary of the company’s ‘Sure Build’ concept was Mainprize Offshore, for its two 25m windfarm support vessels, MO2 and MO3.

“For many years we’ve watched yards make small fortunes, then fail, or operators make big investments which have then been seized or withheld by administrators. We wanted to offer a ‘piece of mind alternative’ to the industry. Something different, something sensible,” explained Nicholas Warren, managing director, Burgess Marine.

"By working closely with Bob and Sharon Mainprize of Mainprize Offshore, we’ve developed a ‘cost plus’ way of working. This ensures a very low risk for the operator and a low, but sustainable, margin for us, as the builder. This has got to be the way to go in an industry so inherently full of risk,” he added.

This will be a definite plus for Mainprize Offshore, which has had trouble with newbuilds in the past. In 2013, the construction of two of its vessels was ground to a halt as Buckie shipyard went in to administration following cash flow problems. Luckily, a team of Buckie specialists picked up the build with Mainprize’s head office overseeing the project, while another vessel built at the yard, the MO1, was said to be around seven months late.